A Passover message

There’s a famous Jewish joke that goes: “Why do Jews always answer one question with another?”

“I don’t know, why do they?”

Jews have always asked questions. Mark Twain spoke of the Jew’s “aggressive and inquisitive mind.” The basic linguistic structure of the Talmud is shakia v’tarya, the give and take of question and answer. More than any other festival, Passover is the time of questions and answers.

If there’s one image that symbolizes the Passover Seder meal, it must be the youngest child summoning up all of his or her courage and asking “Ma Nishtana?” Why is this night different from all other nights? The Four Questions.

Look in the Haggada — the universal Jewish text that tells the story of the Exodus — and you’ll find many more than just four questions. “The wise son, what does he say? ‘What are the testimonies, decrees and ordinances that Hashem, our G-d, has commanded you?’” “The wicked son, what does he say? ‘Of what purpose is this work to you?’” “The simple son, what does he say? What is this?’”

Rabbi Yossi the Galilean said: How does one derive that the Egyptians were struck with fifty plagues at the sea? Matza  — why do we eat this unleavened bread? Maror — why do we eat this bitter herb? Who knows one? Who knows two? Three? Four?

Asking and answering is the essence of the Seder. In fact, two Torah scholars making the Seder together are still obliged to ask each other these same questions. Moreover, a lone Torah scholar would ask and answer those questions to himself. It must be then, that the methodology of question and answer reveals something essential.

We remember Pesach not only in Nisan, but every day of our lives. Every day of our lives we must try to ease the life of our fellow man from any burden and suffering, this way we will truly observe the spirit of Pesach.

I wish all of you a kosher and Happy Pesach.